Secrets of Us A Forbidden Love Romance (Alina)

Chapter 47

Engaged

The months have gone by really quick. Aiden has been better since Zaid left, and now he's been back to his normal upbeat self.

He's taken up his game.

Both in basketball and in bed.

My legs are sore as I walk outside. The air is cold, freezing my nose, but I don't complain. It's better than the unbearable heat. Aiden's had an amazing first half of basketball season and next year they're hoping to go to the state tournament.

I wrap my arms around myself to keep in some of the warmth.

Winter break is next week, and all I can think about is Zaid.

It makes me feel guilty. That I'm excited that he'll be in town. I've never had a pleasant experience with him, and I should hate him, but just the thought of maybe seeing him again...

I shudder.

Sometimes I get this gut feeling that he's watching me, but when I turn to face the

corner

of whatever room I'm in, he's never there. Of course he's not.

I hate myself for missing his charms, even though they annoyed me, even though

he tested every inch of my sanity when he was here.

I can't explain the way his face haunts my dreams.

That I sometimes think about him, even when it is Aiden deep inside me.

I shake my head, trying to push the thoughts away. I shouldn't feel this way. I'm with

Aiden.

Zaid is his brother, and whatever chemistry there was between us before he left is nothing.

But I still haven't gotten Aiden to talk about the night Zaid got arrested. Every time

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Engaged

bring it up, he shuts down, changes the subject, or tells me it doesn't matter anymore.

in my pocket, pulling

Come over now. It's

that and I know immediately that something is off. I stuff my

as if he's been looking out the window and waiting for me to get home. He doesn't say

as he harshly pulls the bag

wide as he shakes his head and I frown at him, feeling strange. He looks upset, running a hand

he says, his

inside. "Sorry for what? What's

back of his neck. "I

me and

Didn't know what?"

the entrance to the living room, his shoulders tense.

at first. Jake. Jake is engaged. It's been almost three months since I've seen him, three months

be no reason for my stomach

frown, trying to rein in the panic fluttering

answer right away. Something else is wrong,

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past him, into the living room, and my heart

middle of the room,

next to

catching in my throat as I

her finger, an enormous rock

his eyes and he places a hand at my mother's back.

warmly, waving her hand at me as if I

from across the room.

hand at my lower back, as

mother, the uncomfortable tension filling the space as they stand

and I clear my throat, trying to regain

throat, that terrible smile still on his face."We

you weren't

that," I mutter,

beside me, his face pale, his

in his eyes, the way he can't

me, her hands outstretched. "Alina, sweetheart,

wonderful news?"

"Wonderful news?" I scoff.

Jake flinches.

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me. "Why are you acting like